Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - March 14, 2016

Black-legged Kittiwake by Nate Dubrow

Gloucester Harbor: 
American Black Duck, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Thick-billed Murre, Black 
Guillemot, Fish Crow

North Main Street, Ipswich:
Peregrine Falcon

Parker Street, Newburyport:
American Kestrel

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
American Woodcock, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Dunlin, Scaup species, Song Sparrow, Killdeer

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Killdeer

Newburyport Industrial Park:
American Woodcock, Cedar Waxwing, Red-tailed Hawk

Rogers Street, Newburyport:
Barred Owl, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Mute Swan, Eastern Phoebe

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Snowy Owl, Bald Eagle, Purple Sandpiper, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Loon

Seine Fields, Gloucester:
American Woodcock, Killdeer

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Mute Swan,
Ring-necked Duck

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, American Woodcock 

Exeter River, Exeter, NH:
Eastern Phoebe

Cherry Hill Reservoir, West Newbury:
Common Merganser, Eastern Bluebird 

7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester:
Northern Gannet, Common Murre, Razorbill, large alcid species, Black-legged Kittiwake, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull,  Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Great Black-backed Gull

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - March 10, 2016:

Wood Duck by Bob Stymeist

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Grackle

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
American Woodcock, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Brown-headed Cowbird

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island:
Purple Sandpiper, Common Merganser, Fox Sparrow, Northern Harrier, American Wigeon, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Mute Swan, Red-winged Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove

Merrimack River, Amesbury/Merrimac/West Newbury:
Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Bufflehead
Mitchell Road, Ipswich:
Wood Duck

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Mute Swan, Common Merganser

Newburyport Industrial Park:
American Woodcock, Killdeer

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimac:

Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Common Merganser, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Mallard, Mute Swan

Bare Hill Road, Topsfield:
Turkey Vulture

Cashman Park, Newburyport:
Bufflehead, Killdeer

Rowley River, Rowley:
Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser

Clark Pond, Ipswich:
Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, Mute Swan, American Wigeon

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Green-winged Teal, American Woodcock, Mallard

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Gadwall, Redhead, King Eider, Harlequin Duck, Thick-billed Murre, Purple Sandpiper, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Eider

River Road, Ipswich:
Brant, Common Loon, Common Eider

Parker River, Newbury:
Belted Kingfisher, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Killdeer, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Red-necked
Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Snowy Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Snow Bunting, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow 

West Shore Road, Merrimac:
Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch

Rowley Train Station:
American Woodcock, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird

Hay Street, Newbury:
American Woodcock

Merrimack River, Newburyport:
Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle, Mallard, Great Cormorant

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Iceland Gull, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture

Hanover Street, Newbury:
Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Mourning Dove, House Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Robin

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Grackle

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
American Woodcock, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Brown-headed Cowbird

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island: 
Purple Sandpiper, Common Merganser, Fox Sparrow, Northern Harrier, American Wigeon, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Mute Swan, Red-winged Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove

Merrimack River, Amesbury/Merrimac/West Newbury:
Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Bufflehead

NEWBURYPORT BIRDERS PROGRAMS for MARCH and APRIL

Searching for Signs of Spring in West Newbury
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016
Time: 3:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Meeting Location: At the junction of Coffin Street & River Road in West Newbury

Celebrate the longer days and go birding. We'll search for birds along the Merrimack River. If you have binoculars & a field guide, please bring them along. Please dress for the weather [in layers, wear warm socks & sturdy shoes]; remember that birding along the river can be damp & cool.  No facilities are available at this site.

Searching for Spring Migrants 

Date: Sunday, March 27, 2016
Time: 3:30 pm to sunset
Fee: $15
Meeting Location: At the junction of Hale Street & Plummer Spring Lane in Newburyport

Go birding to celebrate the longer days! We'll search for newly arriving birds.  If you have binoculars and a field guide, please bring them along. Please dress for the weather [in layers, wear warm socks & sturdy shoes]; remember birding by the water can be cool & windy.  No facilities are available at this site.

Explore The Little River Trail
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2016
Time:  8:00 am to 11:00 am
Fee: $15 
Meeting Location: Hale Street in Newburyport at the small pull-off with a kiosk on the right 1.1 miles from the Low & Hale Street junction in Newburyport

Explore one of Newburyport’s best kept secret, birding locations. Seldom do you hear of groups birding the Little River Trail; during this program, we’ll show you this under-explored, birding spot. We look forward to introducing you to new vistas and interesting observations at this gem of a property. Wear sturdy shoes; bring a hat, insect repellent and a beverage.

Birding Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Byfield
Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016
Time: 8:00 am to 11:00 am
Fee: $15 

This 1500+ acre property consists of hardwood forest with understory. Rocky hills dot the property as well as small, fire ponds. Parts of this property are poorly drained and seasonally wet. The headwaters of Cart Creek and the Little River are within the property. This property offers a wide range of birds in old pastures and wooded tracts. We will 
walk least 2.5 miles on fairly level terrain. Wear sturdy shoes; bring a hat, insect repellent and a beverage.

Directions: Take Route 95 to the Central St/Byfield Exit. Follow Central Street east to Orchard Street (3/4 mile). Turn left onto Orchard Street and drive approx. 1 mile to the parking area on the left.

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - March 7, 2016

American Woodcock by Bob Stymeist

Click here for an American Woodcock display flight video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1fxy0MR2c

Mitchell Road, Ipswich:
Wood Duck

Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield:
Green-winged Teal, American Woodcock, Mallard

Various Areas on Cape Ann:
Gadwall, Redhead, King Eider, Harlequin Duck, Thick-billed Murre, Purple Sandpiper, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Eider 

River Road, Ipswich:
Brant, Common Loon, Common Eider

Artichoke Reservoir, West Newbury:
Mute Swan, Common Merganser

Newburyport Industrial Park:
American Woodcock

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimac:

Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Common Merganser, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Mallard, Mute Swan

Bare Hill Road, Topsfield:
Turkey Vulture

Cashman Park, Newburyport:
Bufflehead, Killdeer

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Red-necked
Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Snowy Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Snow Bunting, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow 

West Shore Road, Merrimac:
Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch

Hay Street, Newbury:
American Woodcock

Merrimack River, Newburyport:
Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle, Mallard, Great Cormorant

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Iceland Gull, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport:
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Grackle

Linebrook Road, Ipswich:
American Woodcock, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird

Tuxbury Pond, Amesbury:
Common Merganser, Brown-headed Cowbird

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island: 
Fox Sparrow, Northern Harrier, American Wigeon, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Red-winged Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren

Merrimack River, Amesbury/Merrimac/West Newbury:
Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Bufflehead

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - March 3, 2016

Red-winged Blackbird by Bob Stymeist

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker

Elm Street, Salisbury:
Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin, American Tree Sparrow

Route 1A, Ipswich:
Turkey Vulture

Main Street, Amesbury:
Cooper's Hawk

Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport/Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Eastern Bluebird, Razorbill, Killdeer, Peregrine Falcon,  Snowy Owl, Purple Sandpiper, Snow Bunting, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Northern Harrier, Long-tailed Duck, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Common Goldeneye, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, European Starling, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull

Route 1A, Newbury:
Killdeer

Various Areas in Ward Hill:
Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird

Various Areas on Plum Island:
Brant, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, White-winged 
Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon,
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Purple Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 
Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, 
European Starling, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, House Finch 
  
Story Avenue, Newburyport: 
Fish Crow

Meadowbrook Pond, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle

River Road, West Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird

Merrimac Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow

Scotland Road, Newbury:
Turkey Vulture, American Woodcock, Red-winged Blackbird

Tara Lane, Newton, NH:
Common Grackle

Hanover Street, Newbury:
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Canada Goose, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch,
Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mourning 
Dove, Song Sparrow, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal 

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Redhead, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck

Cherry Hill Reservoir, West Newbury:
Bald Eagle, Common Goldeneye, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow

Various Areas in Gloucester:
Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimack:
Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Mallard, Herring Gull, Carolina Wren, Red-winged Blackbird 

Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH:
Northern Shrike

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Cooper's Hawk, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay

Swasey Park, Exeter, NH:
Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher

Newburyport Industrial Park:
American Woodcock, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk

Northgate & Argilla Roads, Ipswich:
Eastern Meadowlark, Killdeer, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose

Bird Sightings for Essex County, MA & Southern NH - February 29, 2016

Bald Eagle by Phil Brown

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport:
Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker

New Hampshire Seacoast:
Eastern Bluebird, Snow Bunting, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Northern Harrier, Long-tailed Duck, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Common Goldeneye, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, European Starling, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull

Various Areas in Ward Hill:
Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird 

Story Avenue, Newburyport: 
Fish Crow

Meadowbrook Pond, Amesbury:
Bald Eagle

River Road, West Newbury:
Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Mallard, Canada Goose, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird

Merrimac Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow

Tara Lane, Newton, NH:
Common Grackle 

Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Exeter, NH:
Redhead, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck

Cherry Hill Reservoir, West Newbury:
Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow

Various Areas in Gloucester:
Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird

Lake Attitash, Amesbury/Merrimack:
Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Merganser, Mallard, Herring Gull, Carolina Wren, Red-winged Blackbird 

Moulton Street, Newburyport:
Fish Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Cooper's Hawk, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay

Swasey Park, Exeter, NH:
Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher

Newburyport Industrial Park:
American Woodcock, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk

Winter Birding Boat Trip on Saturday, March 12th

Aboard the 7 Seas Privateer IV out of Gloucester
Time: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fee: $75

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is running a Winter Birding Boat Trip on Saturday March 12 aboard the 7 Seas Privateer IV, from 8 am to 1 pm.  Capt. Jay Frontierro will be calling the show with assistance from Essex County Ornithology Club's Jim Berry,

You may register at:  http://web.capeannchamber.com/events/Winter-Birding-Boat-Trip-2238/details

 For a great perspective on the trip, please read the following by Captain Jay:

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds. Each year thousands of birders visit the rugged coast of Cape Ann and scan the adjacent waters hoping to spot some of the unusual and highly sought-after seabirds that spend the Winter months just offshore. While some of these species do occasionally venture close enough to land to be seen from shore through a telescope, undoubtedly the best way to get to see these birds and experience them up-close is to visit them where they live… on the ocean!

On March 12, 2016, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is planning our 5th Winter Birding Cruise in partnership with 7 Seas Whale Watch and many of the area’s top ornithologists!

On this trip we will be visiting one of New England’s most productive marine habitats: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Stellwagen Bank is probably best known for its large concentrations of whales (Humpback and Finback especially) which attract tens-of-thousands of eager whale watchers each Spring through Fall. But the activity continues all year long! Even in Winter many species of marine wildlife can be seen, and while this trip will focus primarily on the birds of Stellwagen Bank, the possibility certainly exists that we may sight non-avian marine wildlife as well… including whales just returning from the Caribbean!

This a special opportunity for bird lovers of all skill levels to join expert guides on a tour of one of New England’s most productive marine habitats at a time when most other passenger vessels have closed down for the year. The possibilities of what we might see on this winter boat trip are endless, but in the five years we have been running this trip we have seen: Black-legged Kittiwakes, Iceland gulls, Glaucous gulls, Razorbills, Dovekies, Common murres, Thick-billed murres, Atlantic puffins, Common eiders, King eiders, Long-tailed ducks, all three scoter species, Greater scaup, Northern gannets, Buffleheads,Common loons, Red-throated loons, Horned grebes, Red-necked grebes, and even a Snowy owl just to name a few! (I’m still hoping for that Great Skua!)

If you would like to learn more about this special trip please visit the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce website. There you will find lots more information about registration, pricing, schedule and more.

I hope to see you there!